Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-19

Sister Baines Mrs. Minnie Willis Baines)
IS the smartest prohibitionist in the state OF
Ohio-the Rev. DR.. A. b. Leonard not eX-
cepted. There is no subterfuge about her
no nonsense in her. She always comes
squarely up to the scratch, and hardly ever
faints when the thorns OF the bramble bush
into which she plunges draw blood. Nc
doubt she is honest. She Is as sincere a
the pure milk of jersey. And she has the
courage of her convictions. She isn't afraid
of the devil and doesn't need to be, for
whatever may become Of the rest of US. he
will never get her.
When, therefore, Sister Baines is to read
a paper OF deliver an address, il is always
accepted Is matter of fact that she will
say something. and say ii conciseiy and in
cisiyely. and that she will make somebody
squirm-if she can.
The talented and distinguished lady
Woman's Christian Temperance Union of
Clark county. at Temperance hall. Thurs
day afternoon, on the relations of the
society to the epartisan prohibitionists. She
could take only one position As tO this mat
ter. for the W. c. T. L. is. with all the
nice things il is trying Ia do, and with all
its good impulses. virtually and
really feminine annex 10 the
Partisan Political Prohibition Organization.
Ii is opposed TO the republican party, and
such being its position It is not at all strange
that Sister BaIneS. born and bred dem
ocrat of the strictest and straightest va
riety, should feel that she could fight the
mean old republicans to the best advantage
from within its ranks.
All this by way of a preface to our ed
itorial commendation of Sister Baines's
frankness and honesty, in declaring. on
Thursday. on the occasion alluded to. that
Temperance Hall was built by the prohibi-
tionists for the prohibitiontsts and that all
the meetings in it are held in the in
terests OF the Prohibition Politi-
cal party, and that this was true Of the
meetings held on Sundays as>well as those
held on week days, She might have added
that ii was true of all the lunches. and sup
pers. and receptions-all of which are in
tended 20 gather in and forward the
grist to the Prohibition mill. This is just
what the REPUBLIC has been saying. and
we now and hereby heartily thank Mrs.
Baines for vindcating our utterances.
But Brother Il. 5. Thompson, editor of
the state prohibition organ, and late chair
man of the Ohio prohibition executive com
mittee. was present, and couldn't allow
Sister Baines TO give away the pro-
hibtion scheme in that way. In a
cat-like. worldly-wise and smilingly
solemn way. this distinguished politician.
in whose mealy mouth lard butter wouldn't
melt in dog days, arose and took issue with
Sister Baines. He declared that the prohi-
bitionists all worked for Political Prohibi-
ton on week days, but on the Sabbath they
worked solely for Gospel Temperance, in a
non-partisan way.
q. thou sly Brother Thompson. DOst
thou think that We cannot see thine inward
intellectual wOrkines-that thine elaborate
political game is not as plain to the eye of
the general public as il is to your own inner
consciousness?
II is. however, ali the same. Sister Baines
told the square truth like a man, And
Brother Thompson tried to squirm and
twist around. and cover up. like woman
or, rather. like some women.
The upshot of the whole matter IL that
Temperance Hall is a capital place for
Political Prohibitionists and their female
allies 10 go to. 1t is pleasant and comforta-
bic. and. although republicans have con-
rritutA ID not little to its erection. il be
longs to the Prohibitionsts and they have a
right to occupy il as they please. But.
let us add-it is a magnif-
cent place for republican men. women and
children tn stay away from. Ii wasn't built
for them-and Brother Thompson only
wishes to entice them in so that he can
weave a web about them and hold them for
partisan purposes. Republicans who go
there will have their generous motives mis-
C Dnstrued. and are at any time liable to as
saults from the De Wits and Others who
have more zeal than discretion. and who.
like traditional children and fools, squirt out
what they honestly think.
We are not finding any fault at all with
Sister Baines, or Brother Thompson, or
their partisan associates. The republicans
feel generously toward them. They are
willing that they should have their beauti
ful temperance hall all to themselves. and
they do not intend TO act the hog by going
in and occupying seats TO which thew have
no title-or for which, in the circumstances.
they have no use.